Victor Bingham Reunion '08

This year my Uncle Tom was in charge of the reunion for my mom's side. I missed it when he was in charge last time and it was a hit so I didn't want to miss it this time. It worked out really well that I go home with my family from the race on the 24th and leave Chris for crunch time to study for the bar.

AmAzInG just about sums up my uncle and aunt. They had the reunion at their ranch/farm in Idaho and oh how fun. What can be more fun: Amazing food, great company, and fun activities! Some of my favorite events were the mud football, slip and slide, and the pig race (where three people get a pig from one pool to the next through a tube and back again, the people have to go through the tube too). To remember this event pictures explain it best so enjoy:)

This One's For You Dad!

My dad was an avid supporter of his children when it came to sports. He went to all the competitions he could and he spent hours researching to try and help us become better. He was supportive in all our sports but I think he loved running the most.

He was like a personal trainer for us. When my sister Angela started running there wasn't a good program in place so after researching different training programs he wrote up one for her. He did more than her coaches and they ended up using his running schedule. He was passionate about our running and you could sense his pride when watching him watch his children run. I will never forget the year that Angela was a state champion in the 1600 and 800. What an exciting event and just thinking of it now I remember the butterflies I felt while watching her run and win those events!

I will also never forget the year that the batton was knocked from my hand during the state 4x4 race. I was devastated and crushed. As I walked off the field I wanted to cry but I couldn't. I hate having people see me cry. All I wanted was my dad. Usually I would want my mom when I was emotional but this time I felt my dad understood more than anyone what I was going through. As I approached the gate where only athletes and coaches were allowed to enter there stood my dad. When I saw him I got choked up and as I reached him he embraced me and the tears finally came and he just held me. He didn't have to say anything but I knew he understood the hurt I was experiencing. So this past January or February Angela and I expressed to each other how we wanted to run a marathon. She commented how cool it would be to run it for dad. After I found a marathon we could run and still have time to train for before I left for Chicago Angela also thought it would be cool to open the invitation to everyone in the family who wanted to participate in either a marathon, 10k, or 5k walk.

So this past Thursday Mom, Heidi, Angela, Camille, and I ran/walked for our dad. Angela and Camille ran on hurt hips and knees and then came and ran the last 3 miles of the marathon with me to help me push through an aching knee and ankle. Although my dad could not speak to express what he felt, Heidi witnessed how proud he was once again as he watched and cried to see his girls run again and to know it was for him. Right before I crossed the finish line I almost started crying. When I stopped running my legs turned to jello and I almost fell from weakness. And once again after running, I wanted my dad. As I approached him after the race I was emotional and met an even more emotional dad. For all the time, energy and commitment you gave to us before in all our activities, This ONE was for YOU Dad!!! WE LOVE YOU!

Marathon Aftermath

Ouch!!!!! Pain!!!!!! Swelling!!!!!!!! Give me more IB Profen!!!!!

So it is now Sunday and I am still limping around with ice strapped to my knee and ankle. I know I pushed it too hard but I had a goal and I wanted to accomplish that goal.

At the beginning of my training for the marathon I had one goal, To Finish! I had a schedule, Hal Higdon's, and I was pretty strict to obey the mileage but that's all I was doing, running the miles. Chris kept prompting me to push it a little more. But I was content with my pace and didn't want anything but to finish. But then my friend Ali invited me to run a 10 miler with a group she was organizing with another friend. I guess it was the group setting that made it feel more like a "race" but I ran it significantly faster than what I previously had been. I was running at 10 minute mile pace and ran those 10 miles under a 8:30 min pace. After that run I decided I could push myself a little more.

I kept pushing and ran my 20 mile run at a 8:15 min pace. I realized I was on pace to qualify for the Boston Marathon!!! I just needed to run it in 3:40 How Exciting! After every run Chris would ask me my time and it started to be fun to try and speed up my pace. I have the greatest husband who supported me 100%. He was my little cheerleader and motivator. He watched the boys when I went out in the mornings and didn't complain even though his time is precious when studying to take the bar. In fact with the bar less than a week away he came and supported me during the race and stayed after to help me recoop. I love you!!!
When the marathon started I knew I didn't want to start too fast and burn out too quickly. Here was my pace for the first few miles: 8:00, 7:00, 7:30, 7:30. I felt wonderful. Then my pace slowed down as I ran uphill for over a mile and a half (killer!) But then I got my pace right back on to my 8:00 minute pace. Halfway I wanted to be at 1 hour 50 minutes. I was at 1:46:30. A little a head and felt good but I was starting to have a little pain in my left knee and right ankle.

All I could do was say a little prayer and keep going. I didn't want to slow down so I kept up my pace. But by mile 18 the pain had intensified and my pace dropped significantly. I wasn't too tired to keep up the pace and my breathing wasn't labored but everytime I tried to pick up my pace pain shot through me so I slowed down. I must say the last 8 miles seemed like the longest miles in my life. Chris, Angela and Camille, drove past me around mile 20 and shouted, "You're on Pace you can do it!!!" I just shook my head and knew there was no way. I wanted to go faster but I couldn't. When Chris saw me again at 23 miles he realized the significant decrease in time. I went from 8:00 minutes miles to about 12:00 or 13:00 minute miles. Soooooooo frustrating!!!!!

At that point my little angels ran with me for the last three miles even though their knees and hips hurt. I was never so glad to see a finish line. I never once stopped running through the race, even through the water stations. I wanted to be able to say I really "ran" a marathon. My finishing time was somewhere around 3:55.

After the marathon I came to Idaho for a reunion and probably been on my feet too much. Saturday morning I woke up in an extreme amount of pain. I could not move my knee at all. I tried to move it just a little and could not without pain shooting everywhere and then throbbing several minutes just for attempting to move. Luckliy Camille was by me and I woke her up and she ran to get me three IB Profen. I was going to see a doctor but after some research I think I have Iliotibial Band Syndrome and just need to do the RICE treatment (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) along with an anti-inflamatory drug like IB Profen.

These are my ankles, really swollen especially around the bone on the outside of the ankle on the right ankle.

The following I took from Runner's World:

"ITB syndrome can result from any activity that causes the leg to turn inward repeatedly. This can include wearing worn-out shoes, running downhill or on banked surfaces, running too many track workouts in the same direction, or simply running too many miles.

It's not the knee, it's the ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin. "When the band comes near the knee, it becomes narrow, and rubbing can occur between the band and the bone. This causes inflammation," says Freddie H. Fu, M.D.

Some experts believe that the incidence of ITB syndrome has increased among all runners in recent years, although the reasons aren't clear. "It could be because so many runners have ramped up their mileage for marathons before they're ready to handle the distance,"says Stephen Pribut, D.P.M., a Washington, D.C., sports podiatrist.

Dr. Pagliano describes most runners with ITB pain as "Type A's." "They run high mileage," he says. "They're not willing to back off, and they are willing to run through pain."

How can you tell if you have ITB syndrome? "The best way is to bend your knee at a 45-degree angle. If you have an ITB problem, you'll feel pain on the outside of the knee," says Dr. Fu. "Sometimes an MRI can confirm it. An X-ray is usually negative, but an MRI can show a partial thickening of the band -- which results from inflammation."

It goes on to say to stop running immediately and give it lots of rest. I had knee problems one time when running 14 miler. I stopped running streched and tried to keep running. I didn't go away so I ended up calling Chris. But this time I pushed through it. I wanted to finish. I just hope I didn't do too much. I want to still run and I hope I didn't do any damage. So right now I just have to give it time.

I Have a Two-Year-Old

This morning after swimming lessons I went to Maceys to pick up some groceries. As we were walking to the car Jared took off running and another mom in her car said to me, "Isn't he just the cutest thing on two legs!" He was being good and I nodded in agreeance (is this a word?)

Off to Maceys we went. Jared loves shopping here because they have grocery carts that have a car in the front for the little tykes to ride/drive around in. Right away a worker gave me a smartie for my "little helper". I put it in my purse deciding he didn't need it right then. We got to the produce section and Jared wanted his own clear plastic bag to put items in. I gave him one and another worker came to us and gave me two more smarties. I gave one to Jared so he could put it in his plastic bag.

We continued to shop and Jared forgot about driving as he ate his smarties. Later by the dairy products Jared starts yelling at me. Unsure of what he wants I continue to shop. A little while later I stop so I can talk to him and see what's upsetting him. He gets out of the car and starts running the other way yelling my candy. He was looking for a smartie he had dropped. I told him it was gone and since it fell on the ground we couldn't eat it anyways. He was reluctant to get back in the car but I bribed him with the second smartie. He got in.

I was almost done shopping when Jared finished his second pack of smarties and wanted to get out again, this time trying to get out while still in motion. He succeeds and starts running off, to look for that lone lost candy and surprisingly he ran in the right direction.

I round him up in the car somehow without bribing him and we set off to the check out stand. Why oh why do they have so much candy up there!? I wait to push the cart by the candy until I'm sure I can push it far enough forward so Jared doesn't have to look at it dead on. But that wasn't good enough. He gets out of his car walks back and picks the closest thing he can to it. I told him he couldn't have it because he didn't listen to me earlier and do what I asked. He gets mad but is still reasonable. The kind lady checking us out offers him a little sucker and smartie. I really don't want him to have it but hey I'll let him have it. He doesn't want it.

What happened next is a blur now. I'm not quite sure how it all happened but Jared was NOT happy!!! I think he wanted to get the "bigger" candy and I said no. He started hitting me and yelling at me and I said he definitely didn't get any candy. Then he started reaching for the sucker and smartie and I told him he didn't get that anymore because he wasn't being happy. He screams like he's never screamed before. I try and cover his mouth which probably just made it louder! I take my hand away realizing that it's no use trying to stifle his screams but the best thing to do is to get out as quickly as possible. The bag boy asked me if Jared was tired and I said probably since he just got done with swimming lessons but he couldn't hear me over Jared's screams.

I could feel every eye falling on Jared and me. It was so weird but I didn't feel embarrassed. I think I was more amazed at the way Jared was acting. He's NEVER been like that before. As I'm walking out people are smiling at me that smile, "I understand". Just as I get outside Jared is wiggling away from me and I have to let go of the cart. But as I let go of the cart it starts rolling away so I grab it and Jared's fighting harder, still screaming mind you. Oh I forgot, as I was telling him he couldn't have the candy because he wasn't happy he was screaming back, "I'm HAPPY, I'm HAPPY!!!" and he screamed that quite frequently all the way to the car.

Back to the escaping cart and almost escaping child... Luckily Maceys is full of happy, helpful workers and a young lady came and asked if she could help me out. I gratefully accepted as she pushed the cart and I concentrated on Jared. We got to the car and I thanked her but she lingered so I opened the trunk and she started to put the things in the trunk. I worked on getting Jared in his car seat. You can imagine he did not want to get in that seat. Two year olds are tough! Again I found eyes staring at me and giving me the nod. Our helper was long gone before I got Jared in and I'm grateful she stayed to load the groceries in the car.

On the way home Jared cried for a little bit but soon settled. While driving home I was trying to decide if I should punish and be upset with him but decided he had done enough to himself already.

Long story but here's the lesson... One moment a two year old can be the cutest thing on two legs and then the child that every mom thinks, "I'm glad that's not mine!" Two year olds are fickle and oh how I love mine admist his tantrums. What can I say, he's TWO!!!